In Annapolis yesterday, Gov. Parris N. Glendening named two new members to the Maryland Stadium Authority, including its new chairman. He also made it clear that he and the Stadium Authority members fully back Orioles owner Peter Angelos' opposition to fielding replacement players if the major league baseball strike continues.
"I want to add that I named members of the Stadium Authority, as well as others involved in this, to help protect the integrity of our national pastime and support Peter Angelos' efforts and refusal to allow replacement players to play ball at Oriole Park at Camden Yards," he said.
To replace Herbert J. Belgrad as chairman of the Stadium Authority, Glendening selected John A. Moag Jr., a Baltimore lawyer with professional ties to former Gov. Harry R. Hughes and political ties to U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, a Democrat from Prince George's County.
Moag is managing partner of the Baltimore office of Patton, Boggs and Blow, where he also directs operations for the firm in five other cities.
Also named to the Stadium Authority was John Brown III of Bethesda, owner of R. J. Bentley's Filling Station, a restaurant in College Park and other commercial enterprises. Brown has been active in College Park redevelopment, as well as with the Terrapin Club and other activities involving University of Maryland athletics.
He serves on the bid committee for the Maryland 1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games.
Moag said he and the governor intend to do what they can to keep financing in place for a football stadium in Camden Yards in the event the state can lure an NFL team to Baltimore.
"The governor is interested that the money absolutely stay put until an NFL effort is dead or all but dead, and we're a long way from that," Moag said.